EP0394168A2 - Kundenspezifisches Dokument mit variablen Dokumentbefehlen - Google Patents

Kundenspezifisches Dokument mit variablen Dokumentbefehlen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0394168A2
EP0394168A2 EP90480043A EP90480043A EP0394168A2 EP 0394168 A2 EP0394168 A2 EP 0394168A2 EP 90480043 A EP90480043 A EP 90480043A EP 90480043 A EP90480043 A EP 90480043A EP 0394168 A2 EP0394168 A2 EP 0394168A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
variable
document
text
documents
shell
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP90480043A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0394168A3 (de
EP0394168B1 (de
Inventor
Tina Louise Bratsch
Paul Douglas Koeller
Mitchell Scott Moore
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Business Machines Corp
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International Business Machines Corp
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0394168A2 publication Critical patent/EP0394168A2/de
Publication of EP0394168A3 publication Critical patent/EP0394168A3/de
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Publication of EP0394168B1 publication Critical patent/EP0394168B1/de
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F40/00—Handling natural language data
    • G06F40/10—Text processing
    • G06F40/166—Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
    • G06F40/174—Form filling; Merging

Definitions

  • the subject invention relates generally to word processing systems, and more particularly, relates to word processing systems for preparation of a number of personalized copies of form documents.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,085,445 teaches a word processing system, which interleaves the printing of letters and envelopes to simplify and speed up mass mailings.
  • the data to be inserted is name and ad­dress information.
  • the IBM 5520 Administrative System is well known as a current system having a powerful capability to create mass mailings and very complex reports.
  • a document called a Merge Control Document (MCD) is used combined with data from a text file.
  • MCD Merge Control Document
  • the MCD will commonly also be called "shell document” herein.
  • the present invention provides a much simpler technique for creating documents that can be used in combination with data to create complex reports and mass mailings.
  • the person creating these documents does not need to understand the concepts of or be able to use a pseudo-pro­gramming language. Maintenance and enhancement of the applications can be easily accomplished without fear of ruining the entire application.
  • a shell document has common text and at least one document command.
  • Document commands can be either fixed document commands or variable document commands. Fixed document commands are known in the prior art.
  • the present invention teaches variable document commands.
  • Each variable document command has at least one field.
  • the field can be either a variable field or a constant field.
  • Variable fields have a first variable for specify­ing a table and a second variable for specifying a posi­tion within the table where variable data is located.
  • the variable document command can be any command that affects the formatting of a document. Besides include text and include image, other possible variable document commands could be conditional text command (if/then/else), skip lines command, change font command, etc.
  • This invention makes use of the constant and variable fields in combination with (actually embedded inside) variable document commands to provide the ability to do MCD-type logic within a shell document.
  • One object of the present invention is to greatly simplify the process of creating and maintaining complex reports and documents.
  • a second object of the present invention is to provide the capability to expand the concept of variable document commands to other fixed document commands.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a system wherein variable or constant fields may be embedded into variable text document commands, such that the vari­able fields of the variable document commands may be from a data file.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a system wherein variable document command fields may be modified by changing the data file rather than the vari­able document command.
  • Fig. 1 is a conceptual view of a form letter 10. Such form letters are typically used for mass mailings for advertising and similar purposes.
  • Form letter 10 has a printed letterhead 12 having the name and address of the sender along with other optional information.
  • Letterhead 12 may be embossed using standard prior art techniques.
  • Inside address 14 contains the name and address of the recipient of the letter. For most mass mailings, each copy of form letter 10 will have a different recipient and hence a different inside address 14.
  • the information for inside address 14 may be built into a data file wherein each record contains the name and address of a different recipient. As such, this data file is simply a mailing list.
  • the introductory line contains the greeting "Dear" 16 which is common to all copies of form letter 10.
  • Field 18 is wherein the name of the recipient is inserted. This is conceivably the first entry of each record of the mailing list data file.
  • Standard text 20 is also common to all copies of form letter 10. It may be a single word or two or as much as several pages. It is shown here schematically as a repre­sentation of its location.
  • variable text 22 is different for different copies of form letter 10.
  • variable text 22 for any copy of form letter 10 may consist of one or more modules of text which are arranged in a particular way to correspond to one or more variables associated with the prospective recipient of the letter. These variables may be unique (e.g., social security number) or may be rela­tively common (e.g., age or sex). The variables may be a direct portion of the mailing list (e.g., resident state) or may be indirect (e.g., annual income). Variable text 22 may vary from a single word to multiple pages of text.
  • Standard text 24 is similar to standard text 20. It is the same for all copies of form letter 10.
  • the closing, "Sincerely" 26, is common to all copies of form letter 10. It is in that regard the same as standard text 20 and standard text 24.
  • Signature 28 may be unique to one or a class of copies of form letter 10.
  • Fig. 2 is an example of variable text prepared for inser­tion into form letter 10.
  • form letter 10 is in response to requests for information regarding insurance coverage.
  • the sender of form letter 10 has information concerning four basic types of insur­ance coverage (i.e., home, life, auto and medical).
  • the relevant information concerning each type of insurance coverage can vary depending upon the state of residence of the recipient of the information. Therefore, the variable text portions are arranged according to Minnesota, MN 30; Wisconsin, WI 40; and Iowa, IA 50. For clarity only three states are shown.
  • Home 32 is the variable text which describes the home insurance coverage according to Minnesota law. Home 32 may contain a small amount of text or may be several pages in length. Similarly, home 42 describes the home insur­ance coverage according to Wisconsin law. Home 52 de­scribes the home insurance coverage according to Iowa law.
  • Life 34 is that text which describes the life insurance coverage according to Minnesota law. Life 44 and life 54 describe the life insurance coverage under Wisconsin and Iowa laws, respectively. Similarly, auto 36, medical 38, auto 46, medical 48, auto 56 and medical 58 describe auto and medical insurance coverage under the laws of Minneso­ta, Wisconsin, and Iowa, respectively.
  • Fig. 3 is table 60 for arranging such data as is required to complete form letter 10 according to the prior art technique.
  • Table 60 contains column 62, NAME; column 64, ADDRESS; column 66, STATE; column 68, HOME; column 70, LIFE; column 72, AUTO; and column 74, MEDICAL.
  • Table 60 has a separate row or record for each recipient.
  • Row 76 corresponds to recipient John Smith.
  • the corresponding entry in column 64 i.e., 123 Main
  • the corresponding entry in column 66 (i.e., MN) indicates Minnesota as John Smith's state of residence.
  • Column 68 indicates that John Smith wants/needs information concerning home insurance coverage.
  • Columns 70 and 72 show that John Smith is not to get information regarding life and auto insurance coverage. However, column 74 shows that John Smith should get information regarding medical insurance coverage.
  • Rows 78 and 80 provide the same data for prospective recipients Mary Jones and Bill Johnson, respectively. Additional rows 82 contain data regarding other prospec­tive recipients. Such additional information is omitted for clarity.
  • Fig. 4 shows the form of shell document 100 created to produce the various copies of form letter 10, wherein shell document 100 is prepared in accordance with the prior art.
  • Inside address 14 is prepared using the data field fixed document command found in IBM Application System/400TM Office Word Processor.
  • Line 102 for example, is "*&NAME". The "*” indicates a document command.
  • the "&” specifies data field.
  • "NAME” is the variable.
  • Line 102 says to go to column 62 (entitled NAME) of table 60 (see also Fig. 3) and enter the contents of one row of column 62 for each succeeding copy of form letter 10.
  • line 104 enters the address from column 64
  • line 106 enters the state of residence from column 66.
  • Data field fixed document command 108 inserts the name in the greeting.
  • Standard text 20, standard text 24, closing 26 and signature 28 are as previously described.
  • Variable text 22 is implemented as a pseudo-program which must be written by the operator. As can easily be seen from Fig. 4, it is variable text 22 which involves the major complexity of shell document 100. The pseudo-pro­gram is performed serially as with ordinary software.
  • the pseudo-program begins with fixed document command "begin conditional text" (i.e., *BCT). This is a branch instruction. If the condition in the parenthesis is met, the next sequential step is executed. If the condition is not met, control is transferred to the next "end condi­tional text" (i.e., *ECT) fixed document command.
  • the only other fixed document command needed for variable text 22 is “include text” (i.e., *INC). This command causes the text specified by the variable in the parenthesis to be inserted.
  • Line 112 determines whether the state of residence of the person named at line 102 is Minnesota. If no, control reverts to the next in line *ECT which is found at line 122. If the state of residence is Minnesota, control sequences to line 114. Referring also to Fig. 3, it can be seen that the first copy of form letter 10 will be sent to John Smith (see row 76) who is a resident of Minnesota. Therefore, lines 114, 116, 118 and 120 will be executed for John Smith, but not Mary Jones or Bill Johnson.
  • lines 116 and 118 determine whether text should be inserted regarding life and auto insurance coverage. For John Smith (i.e., row 76), no such text is required. However, line 120 will insert MEDICAL 38 because column 74, row 76 contains "Y".
  • the pseudo-program steps for each of the other states are represented by lines 124, 126, 128 and 130.
  • the detail has been omitted for clarity. However, it can be easily seen that for four types of information, six pseudo-pro­gramming lines are needed for each state. For the three states of our example, this would be 18 total pseudo-pro­gramming lines. For fifty states, this would be 300 pseudo-programming lines.
  • Fig. 5 shows table 60 restructured as table 140 in accor­dance with the present invention.
  • Table 140 contains column 62, 64, and 66 which are identical to those columns as found in table 60.
  • Columns 68, 70, 72 and 74 of table 60 are replaced with column 142, PAGES, of table 140.
  • column 142 contains the same information as columns 68, 70, 72 and 74 wherein entry 144 corresponds with row 76, entry 146 corresponds with row 78, and entry 148 corresponds with row 80.
  • Entry 144 means that the copy of form letter 10 sent to John Smith (i.e., row 76) should contain page 1 (i.e., information regarding home insurance coverage) and page 4 (i.e., information regard­ing medical insurance coverage).
  • entry 146 indicates information regarding all four types
  • entry 148 indicates information regarding types 2 and 3 only.
  • Table 140 also contains additional column 143 entitled AGENT. This column points to the image of a signature for each agent within each state. Therefore, MN AGENT 143 represents the signature of the agent for Minnesota. Similarly, IA AGENT 145 and WI AGENT 147 represent the signatures of the agents for Iowa and Wisconsin, respec­tively.
  • Fig. 6 is a diagram of shell document 150 created in accordance with the present invention. All elements of Fig. 6 are as previously described except the pseudo-pro­gram which produces variable text 22 and the signature block 157.
  • the pseudo-program has been replaced by a single variable document command (i.e., *INCTXT). No conditional fixed document command (i.e., *BCT) is needed because it is assumed that some text will be added for each copy of form letter 10.
  • the *INCTXT variable document command may have variable fields.
  • line 152 indicates where the specified text will be inserted.
  • the first field i.e., variable field 154, &STATE
  • the value from column 66 is the name of the document that contains the standard paragraphs (see Fig. 2). Contrast this with line 114 of Fig. 4 in which the first parameter 113 of the *INC fixed document command is hard-coded to "MN".
  • field 156 is hard-coded to "STDPARAS", which is the name of a folder that contains one document for each state.
  • field 158 is speci­fied by variable field &PAGES. This data field causes access to column 142 of table 140 for the row of the prospective recipient. In this way, each of the pieces of text to be added is specified by table 140, not by shell document 150. Addition of more states or more types of insurance coverage will not cause any change to shell document 150.
  • Table 140 must change, of course, but modification to table 60 was required using the prior art technique as well.
  • the remaining change to shell document 150 according to the present invention is in the signature.
  • the prior art technique was to supply signature 28 by actually signing each copy or by printing or stamping the signature.
  • the signature block of form letter 150 is variable and is specified by table 140 (see Figs. 5 and 6).
  • Form letter 150 contains the variable document command 157, *INCIMG. This command causes a variable image (in this case a signature) to be specified by variable field 155 (&AGENT).
  • a variable image in this case a signature
  • &AGENT variable field 155
  • table 140 column 141 is consulted according to the row of the specific copy being prepared, and the corresponding signature is inserted as specified by column 141.
  • Fig. 7 is a flowchart for software modification required to practice the present invention.
  • the programming stream is entered at 200.
  • Element 202 scans the next line of shell document 150 for a document command. These are signified by a leading asterisk (i.e., "*"). If none is found, control returns to the previous control stream at 214.
  • a variable field is indicated by an ampersand within parenthesis, such as line 152 of Fig. 6. Note that line 102 of Fig. 6 does not contain a variable field because the ampersand is not within parenthesis.
  • the document command is a variable document command, and element 210 accesses the data source to acquire the exact value and inserts it into the variable field. If element 208 does not find a variable field, the command is a fixed document command containing only hard-coded fields, and element 210 is skipped. Element 212 processes the document command.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
  • Audiology, Speech & Language Pathology (AREA)
  • Computational Linguistics (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Document Processing Apparatus (AREA)
EP90480043A 1989-04-17 1990-03-13 Kundenspezifisches Dokument mit variablen Dokumentbefehlen Expired - Lifetime EP0394168B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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US33950089A 1989-04-17 1989-04-17
US339500 1989-04-17

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EP0394168A2 true EP0394168A2 (de) 1990-10-24
EP0394168A3 EP0394168A3 (de) 1992-12-30
EP0394168B1 EP0394168B1 (de) 1997-06-04

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EP (1) EP0394168B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH02294772A (de)
DE (1) DE69030841D1 (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0590949A2 (de) * 1992-10-01 1994-04-06 Fujitsu Limited Apparat zum Ersetzen von Variablen
EP0590892A2 (de) * 1992-09-28 1994-04-06 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Dokumentverarbeitungsapparat
EP0862120A1 (de) * 1996-08-16 1998-09-02 Pfu Limited Anordnung zur erzeugung von originaltext und dessen programmspeichermedium
NL1006780C2 (nl) * 1997-08-15 1999-02-22 Pharmalabel Bv Werkwijze voor het bedrukken van pagina's van een adreslijst.
WO2006078738A2 (en) 2005-01-19 2006-07-27 International Business Machines Corporation Method and apparatus for adding signature information to electronic documents
US9015574B2 (en) 2011-03-10 2015-04-21 Jason Porter Rickabaugh Apparatus, system and method for a vector-based form field document

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH117443A (ja) * 1997-06-16 1999-01-12 Pfu Ltd 原稿テキスト生成処理装置および方法および記憶媒体

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0067303A2 (de) * 1981-06-16 1982-12-22 International Business Machines Corporation Berichterzeugungssteuersystem für Textverarbeitungsgerät
EP0075732A2 (de) * 1981-09-24 1983-04-06 International Business Machines Corporation Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Mischverarbeitung in einem Textverarbeitungssystem
US4454576A (en) * 1981-05-18 1984-06-12 International Business Machines Corporation Report preparation

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5855538B2 (ja) * 1981-03-11 1983-12-10 富士通株式会社 印鑑登録証明システム
JPS58144283A (ja) * 1982-02-22 1983-08-27 Ricoh Co Ltd 文書作成通信端末装置
JPS5968040A (ja) * 1982-10-11 1984-04-17 Fujitsu Ltd カード様式変更処理方法
JPS60245065A (ja) * 1984-05-18 1985-12-04 Canon Inc 電子機器
JPS6115269A (ja) * 1984-06-30 1986-01-23 Toshiba Corp ワ−ドプロセツサのフオ−ムオ−バレイ方式

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4454576A (en) * 1981-05-18 1984-06-12 International Business Machines Corporation Report preparation
EP0067303A2 (de) * 1981-06-16 1982-12-22 International Business Machines Corporation Berichterzeugungssteuersystem für Textverarbeitungsgerät
EP0075732A2 (de) * 1981-09-24 1983-04-06 International Business Machines Corporation Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Mischverarbeitung in einem Textverarbeitungssystem

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN. vol. 28, no. 12, May 1986, NEW YORK US pages 5642 - 5643 'Method to Merge Table Data using One-Cell Table Objects' *
IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN. vol. 29, no. 6, November 1986, NEW YORK US pages 2387 - 2389 'Word Processor having Conditional Text Printing for Mass Mailings' *

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0590892A2 (de) * 1992-09-28 1994-04-06 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Dokumentverarbeitungsapparat
EP0590892A3 (en) * 1992-09-28 1994-06-01 Brother Ind Ltd Document processing apparatus
EP0590949A3 (en) * 1992-10-01 1994-05-18 Fujitsu Ltd Variable replacement apparatus
US5412566A (en) * 1992-10-01 1995-05-02 Fujitsu Limited Variable replacement apparatus
EP0590949A2 (de) * 1992-10-01 1994-04-06 Fujitsu Limited Apparat zum Ersetzen von Variablen
US6119136A (en) * 1996-08-16 2000-09-12 Pfu Limited Manuscript text composition system featuring a parameter table for specifying template parameters and characters
EP0862120A1 (de) * 1996-08-16 1998-09-02 Pfu Limited Anordnung zur erzeugung von originaltext und dessen programmspeichermedium
EP0862120A4 (de) * 1996-08-16 1999-11-10 Pfu Ltd Anordnung zur erzeugung von originaltext und dessen programmspeichermedium
NL1006780C2 (nl) * 1997-08-15 1999-02-22 Pharmalabel Bv Werkwijze voor het bedrukken van pagina's van een adreslijst.
WO2006078738A2 (en) 2005-01-19 2006-07-27 International Business Machines Corporation Method and apparatus for adding signature information to electronic documents
EP1847059A2 (de) * 2005-01-19 2007-10-24 International Business Machines Corporation Verfahren und vorrichtung zum hinzufügen von signaturinformationen zu elektronischen dokumenten
EP1847059A4 (de) * 2005-01-19 2011-01-26 Ibm Verfahren und vorrichtung zum hinzufügen von signaturinformationen zu elektronischen dokumenten
US9015574B2 (en) 2011-03-10 2015-04-21 Jason Porter Rickabaugh Apparatus, system and method for a vector-based form field document

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH02294772A (ja) 1990-12-05
DE69030841D1 (de) 1997-07-10
EP0394168A3 (de) 1992-12-30
EP0394168B1 (de) 1997-06-04

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